A Step by Step Guide to Implementing a Universal
Classroom Breakfast Program in Your School

1. Your food service department prepares simple yet healthy menu items and puts the food in a meal bag. The bags are then placed in a large plastic tote labeled with a classroom name.

2. Each classroom assigns students to collect the breakfast totes from the cafeteria at the morning bell.

3. In the classroom, students pick up their bagged breakfast. On a meal roster, the teacher marks the students who took a reimbursable breakfast. All students who want breakfast receive the meal at "No Charge."

4. Students eat at their desk while the teacher takes attendance and makes morning announcements.

5. After approximately 15 minutes, students clean up their desk and put the trash into a trash bag, which was supplied in the tote. The bag is then put into the tote and is set outside the classroom to be picked up by custodial or food service staff.

6. Food service personnel collect classroom rosters and tally breakfast counts by the
eligibility category of the students (paid, reduced price, or free).

Of course, you know what will work best in your school;
the information found above is just one of many options.

Other ideas:

• Students pick up their meal bag in the cafeteria and bring it to their classroom.

• Students are given a meal bag as they enter the school, after getting off the school bus.

• Breakfast on the Bus - the students are given a bagged breakfast as they get onto the bus in the morning. The meal is consumed on the bus.

• 2nd Chance Breakfast - a great option in secondary schools. Carts are placed in high- traffic areas of the school after the first class period. Students are able to pick up a bagged breakfast from the carts and bring it with them to their second period class. Allow a few extra minutes between bells to give students ample time to grab their
breakfast.